How can you take care of yourself?

NurseBettyICU, ADN, BSN · May 1, 2008

I think if you want to be a nurse - then you can do it. Dont let others discourage you by telling you that you HAVE to have a 4.0 and that you cannot work. You can do whatever you put your mind to.

When I first decided I wanted to be a nurse - I emailed my counciler and asked her about working while in NS. I knew I couldnt make it if I wasnt bringing in some income and asked what other students were doing to make ends meet while in NS - I've got bills and 2 small kids. Well she flat out told me that NO students in NS work. They are all supported by their husband and dont have any kid - or they are fresh out of HS and still live with their parents. I was heartbroken thinking that I wasnt going to be able to follow my dreams of becoming a nurse b/c I wasnt fully financially supported by my family. But you know what - things work out on their own. SO many NS students still work - maybe not a 8-5 job, but they make it. I think this counciler was full of crap for telling me the things she did.

You've got experience already as a Med Assist - I bet you could easily find a job (Pt or Ft) working around your school schedule. And there are student loans out there.

You can do it!

Sandy_dfw · May 1, 2008

You can do it.

You can work while going to nursing school, it just takes a hob with a lot

of flexability. It will be harder then not working but it can be done.

I am working extra hours now so I will have extra money for bills when I

get accepted into nursing school.

Sandy

nursingisforme · May 6, 2008

Hi

I don't know your full situation as far as kids,husband etc. but where I live the hospitals are willing to hire you and work with your school schedule(i.e 8,12 or 16 hour shifts, nights, or weekend alternative) they are so desperate for nurses that the idea of having a tech who may become a nurse is an ideal situation for them they figure if you work here while in school you will stay on as a full time nurse. So maybe looking into working in a hospital may help. When I was tech working at night most of my co-workers where nursing students who worked in the float pool and made there own schedules and had the added bonus of studying on their shift (the night shift isn't as busy as the day shift SOMETIMES)

So good luck to you!!

JettaDP · May 6, 2008

Have you thought about working on campus? At my school, there is a pool and I work the front desk. Basically all I do is check their student id's or take their $2.00 if their not students. I work the desk 6 hours a day/5 days a week. Every day I usually get about 4 hours of studying in while I'm working. There are several jobs throughout the campus that are like this. It may not be health care related experience but if you're already in the nursing program then it shoudn't matter so much.